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LE

Turkish forces and Syrian rebels fought government troops in northwest Syria on Thursday and Russian warplanes struck back in a sharp escalation of an intense battle over the last rebel bastions, Russian and Turkish officials said.

www.reuters.com

Seems the Russian (SyAAF according to Turkey) planes used in the attack to repel the attack were Su-25’s. It would appear the rebels broke through in two areas and were repelled by the air strikes:

According to rebel sources, they were trying to relieve the surrounded Tr outposts:

Turkey probably doesn’t want the additional million or so refugees to add to their 3.7M. For some reason, the refugees don’t appear to want to reside in Assad govt controlled areas:

LE

LE

What seems to have happened is this: Turkey talked in recent days about wanting to force the Syrian army back from recently taken ground. In the last few weeks, Turkey has been supplying increasing numbers of ATGM (Mainly Kornet and TOW) to Jihadists in Idlib, as well as more APC, MRAP, etc. There has also been more direct artillery support by Turkey, for the Turkish - backed Jihadis. Bear in mind that a NATO member is supporting these groups...
Anyway, after some talk (which was, I think, a warning to Russia) the Jihadis today attacked the Idlib town of Nayrab.
It looks as if the Jihadis and Turkish support hit the SAA badly. The SAA lost some men, tanks, and AFV. The Jihad-Turks broke into the town but appear not to have taken it fully.
Importantly, Russia did not back down. There were RuAF airstrikes on Jihadis and Turks, causing casualties previously referred to. Su-24. The SyAAF attacked Turkish OPs, some of which are marooned in govt-controlled territory.
With Russia - again - having called Erdoğan's bluff, the attack on Nayrab has ended, and Turks/Jihadis pulled back.
I don't know what Erdoğan is achieving.

Its risible that Turkey is a NATO member; given it oppresses its Kurds and invaded Cyprus/Greece, Iraq and now Syria... The Syrian government has every right to act in any way it wishes on its territory and killing jihadis gets my vote at any time, anywhere.

LE

Its risible that Turkey is a NATO member; given it oppresses its Kurds and invaded Cyprus/Greece, Iraq and now Syria... The Syrian government has every right to act in any way it wishes on its territory and killing jihadis gets my vote at any time, anywhere.

I suspect the latter may have a good deal to do with it. Their high water mark was in the past, they've been in retreat for some time now, and total defeat seems inevitable. For any jihadist with an eye to a brighter future, it doesn't seem likely it will be found in Syria.

ADC

Britain's UN ambassador tells Sky News the UN has been given "a very sobering and frightening humanitarian briefing" on the war.

news.sky.com

Karen Pierce, shortly to leave as the UK’s Ambo to the UN and take up that of the UK’s Ambo to the US saying that 13 of the 15 members of the UNSC want a ceasefire and only Russia, supported by China is against it. They have used their veto considerably since the Syrian Civil War began nearly nine years ago:

The British diplomat said the UN was "very ready to do what we can to back a UN-led ceasefire" - "but Russia needs to agree" and to "persuade the Russians to let-up on the bombardment of Idlib".

"The UN wants to act. And 13 members of the Security Council want to act. But we are stopped from acting because of Russia, supported by China," she told Sky News

"That's the main thing - to get the Russians to restrain the Syrians and stop aiding them in the bombings that they are doing, including the bombing of hospitals which is against the Geneva Convention."

She said the "absolute priority is a cessation of hostilities as soon as possible".

LE

Film here from R&U - which for full disclosure is pro-Assad/Russia - of the Jihadist/Turkish army attack on Nayrab.
Turkey was supporting the group named Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and you can see the HTS watermark on the videos. HTS is a full-on Sunni/Wahabbist Islamist group.

Current reports are that Turkey lost x3 M60 tanks at Nayrab and you can see, in the section of the video which shows RuAF and SyAAF air attacks, very close impacts, or near direct, on Turkish or HTS vehicles - including M60.

LE

LE

Britain's UN ambassador tells Sky News the UN has been given "a very sobering and frightening humanitarian briefing" on the war.

news.sky.com

Karen Pierce, shortly to leave as the UK’s Ambo to the UN and take up that of the UK’s Ambo to the US saying that 13 of the 15 members of the UNSC want a ceasefire and only Russia, supported by China is against it. They have used their veto considerably since the Syrian Civil War began nearly nine years ago:

She also questions Assad’s proposed endgame, and even if he does ‘win’ (again), whether it means he can in fact govern all of Syria again:

A Turkish soldier was killed in Syria's Idlib region in a bomb attack by Russian-backed government forces, the defence ministry said on Saturday, Turkey's 16th military death during a month in which talks between Ankara and Moscow have stalled.

www.reuters.com

A Turkish soldier was killed in Syria’s Idlib region in a bomb attack by Russian-backed government forces, the defence ministry said on Saturday, Turkey’s 16th military death during a month in which talks between Ankara and Moscow have stalled.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he will meet Russian, German and French counterparts on March 5 to discuss Idlib, where Syrian government forces are pushing to retake the last large rebel-held region after nine years of war in the country.

According to Russian TV, Turkey has 4000 troops and 80 tanks in Idlib. But Turkey is unable to use freely its AF while SyAF are constantly bombing Turkish troop. At the same time RuAF bombs only terrorists/jihadists. So military hardware that Ankara gives to terrorists/jihadists become immediately targets for RuAF.

Last edited: 23 Feb 2020

@TheIronDuke: Russian or any other trolls tend to be dealt with using weapons Russia can never hope to deploy.
Humour Irony Intelligence Knowlege

A Turkish soldier was killed in Syria's Idlib region in a bomb attack by Russian-backed government forces, the defence ministry said on Saturday, Turkey's 16th military death during a month in which talks between Ankara and Moscow have stalled.

www.reuters.com

The situation in Idlib is explosive. There are real prospect of major military conflict between Syria and Turkey with quite possible participation of Russian forces.

LE

Tweet with video of a Turkish column in a Syrian village, receiving RuAF air attack and artillery from the SAA. It is reported that Turkish troops withdrew after taking casualties.
Erdoğan seems not to be receiving Putin's message.

LE

You can't move for drones around there can you? Is there a Benny Hill nasheed?

When routine bites hard, And ambitions are low, And resentment rides high, But emotions won't grow...By voting on this post with a Dumb I confirm that I am a more than a bit stupid and an all round loser.

LE

Film here from R&U - which for full disclosure is pro-Assad/Russia - of the Jihadist/Turkish army attack on Nayrab.
Turkey was supporting the group named Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and you can see the HTS watermark on the videos. HTS is a full-on Sunni/Wahabbist Islamist group.

It is a matter of record that early on in the daesh's climb to power a very cosy relationship existed between them and Turkey. Recruits to their sick cause moved freely through Turkey to join up. During the early conflict the oil they captured was black marketed through Turkey, their wounded were treated in Turkey. Turkey’s assistance to jihadist extremists and extremism has been ongoing for some time.

That it now brings them up against Russia, is ironic... couldn’t happen to a more appropriate set of unpleasant groups. Long may it continue.

Turkey’s geography made it a NATO alley, in direct contrast to their unpleasant and unsavoury genocidal history and past human rights records, which is in direct opposition to everything NATO stands for and attempts to protect.

Though in the past there have been substantial numbers in Turkey who are pro NATO, pro Western, and do hold views more in common with the majority of NATO countries, these have been actively purged and weeded out by Erdogan, whose recent actions have been anything but, a willing, helpful, useful member of NATO, instead more like a 5th column, unwilling, unhelpful, and a dead weight within that organisation.

One can only feel very grateful that Turkey was not allowed access to the EU, otherwise they would have been the same problem to that troubled organisation, and our major contribution to the EU budget would have been supporting over 80 million more Muslims who would have been more than happy to fulfil their God given instructions to drain Kafir coffers.

LE

It is a matter of record that early on in the daesh's climb to power a very cosy relationship existed between them and Turkey. Recruits to their sick cause moved freely through Turkey to join up. During the early conflict the oil they captured was black marketed through Turkey, their wounded were treated in Turkey. Turkey’s assistance to jihadist extremists and extremism has been ongoing for some time.

That it now brings them up against Russia, is ironic... couldn’t happen to a more appropriate set of unpleasant groups. Long may it continue.

Turkey’s geography made it a NATO alley, in direct contrast to their unpleasant and unsavoury genocidal history and past human rights records, which is in direct opposition to everything NATO stands for and attempts to protect.

Though in the past there have been substantial numbers in Turkey who are pro NATO, pro Western, and do hold views more in common with the majority of NATO countries, these have been actively purged and weeded out by Erdogan, whose recent actions have been anything but, a willing, helpful, useful member of NATO, instead more like a 5th column, unwilling, unhelpful, and a dead weight within that organisation.

One can only feel very grateful that Turkey was not allowed access to the EU, otherwise they would have been the same problem to that troubled organisation, and our major contribution to the EU budget would have been supporting over 80 million more Muslims who would have been more than happy to fulfil their God given instructions to drain Kafir coffers.

And 'call me Dave' was cheerleading their application. Time for Don to stop military aid to Turkey and pull out American and NATO bases. No whinging about more refugees. The rule is is you break it you own it. No soft option in Europe anymore.

LE

It is a matter of record that early on in the daesh's climb to power a very cosy relationship existed between them and Turkey. Recruits to their sick cause moved freely through Turkey to join up. During the early conflict the oil they captured was black marketed through Turkey, their wounded were treated in Turkey. Turkey’s assistance to jihadist extremists and extremism has been ongoing for some time.

That it now brings them up against Russia, is ironic... couldn’t happen to a more appropriate set of unpleasant groups. Long may it continue.

Turkey’s geography made it a NATO alley, in direct contrast to their unpleasant and unsavoury genocidal history and past human rights records, which is in direct opposition to everything NATO stands for and attempts to protect.

Though in the past there have been substantial numbers in Turkey who are pro NATO, pro Western, and do hold views more in common with the majority of NATO countries, these have been actively purged and weeded out by Erdogan, whose recent actions have been anything but, a willing, helpful, useful member of NATO, instead more like a 5th column, unwilling, unhelpful, and a dead weight within that organisation.

One can only feel very grateful that Turkey was not allowed access to the EU, otherwise they would have been the same problem to that troubled organisation, and our major contribution to the EU budget would have been supporting over 80 million more Muslims who would have been more than happy to fulfil their God given instructions to drain Kafir coffers.

When routine bites hard, And ambitions are low, And resentment rides high, But emotions won't grow...By voting on this post with a Dumb I confirm that I am a more than a bit stupid and an all round loser.